Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Journeyman bookbinder standard?
Knowledge
K1: Understanding of legislative requirements and responsibilities relating to health and safety, manual handling, hazardous substances (COSHH), chemicals, dust, hazard identification and risk assessment in the work area.
K2: Understand the environmental impact of working practices, minimising waste, the efficient use of resources and recycling/re-using materials.
K3: Understand which clothing to wear when and for what purpose and which equipment to use, including the safe handling of board choppers, guillotines, laying presses, paring knives, shears, hot glue, and other hazardous workshop equipment.
K4: Understand the environmental impact of working practices on the environment including the efficient use of resources and recycling.
K5: Understand the operational arrangements of the workshop such as the respective staff roles and the flow of work for the business.
K6: Understanding the range of materials and their applications, such as different leather types and qualities, appropriate selection of papers, adhesives, threads and sewing support materials (e.g. tapes and cords), types of gold leaf, gold foil and book cloths.
K7: Understanding the use of equipment and its intended purposes, examples include board choppers, guillotines, glue pots, laying presses, sewing frames, finishing stoves, blocking presses, riveters, book washing sinks, humidifiers and fume cupboards.
K8: Understand the value of stock and role of inventory checking in the efficient running of a workshop including consumption rate of stock use and its relationship to both work and cash flow.
K9: Understand the markets from which materials, tools and equipment may be sourced and the related issues arising from the ordering of materials, tools and equipment, such as transport, installation or other physical matters and the time frames between ordering and delivery from specialist suppliers and manufacturers.
K10: Understand the principle skills required in fine binding and their application.
K11: Understand how make a variety of boxes including drop-back boxes and slipcases.
K12: Understand the art of applying gold leaf as a form of decoration and titling to the covers of leather books.
K13: Understand how a design in art form translates into a physical block for use in the bindery.
K14: Understand the history of the book and in particular of the history of bookbinding.
K15: Knowledge of conservation and the practical measures that can be taken to protect items from long-term damage, such as: identifying acidic materials frequently found in nineteenth and twentieth century books, the long term damage of acidity and other harmful materials, PH values and the principle of reversibility (particularly in relation to adhesives) and understanding the processes used in leather tanning that can affect the long term durability of the binding.
K16: Understanding of company security procedures and applicable security arrangements relating to the property belonging to customers.
K17: Understanding insurance issues, including third party property cover and professional indemnity, particularly when dealing with high value items.
K18: Understanding how a customer’s needs translate into costs and timeframe by being aware of the implications of requirements in terms of materials, equipment and the workflow within the workshop.
K19: Understand the mechanical and physical properties of tools and the purposes for which they are designed.
K20: Understand how tools are to be maintained and stored, examples include shaping and sharpening knives and making knife covers, making strops, maintaining finishing tools and keeping them in a serviceable and workshop-ready condition.
K21: Understand the reason and importance of keeping accurate timesheets and records of work undertaken.
K22: Awareness of how the workflow process is managed from the enquiry and ordering stage through to the completion of a project and the return of items to customers.
K23: Understanding the varied nature of the workload and how different jobs can be processed at the same time to allow for pressing and drying times.
K24: Understanding of the importance of learned techniques, their possible range applications and where skills-gaps need to be addressed through continuous professional development.
Skills
S1: Comply with relevant health, safety and environmental legislation (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) e.g. logging and reporting incidents, correct use of PPE.
S2: Safely use equipment in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and/or in accordance with workshop practices for equipment made in the workshop, examples include board choppers, guillotines, glue pots, laying presses, sewing frames, finishing stoves, blocking presses, riveters, book washing sinks, humidifiers and fume cupboards.
S3: tools correctly according to company health and safety requirements.
S4: appropriate accounting software in order to complete stock-counting and procurement responsibilities.
S5: applicable human resources procedures and standards when managing teams or supervising junior staff.
S6: all workshop process are completed in an appropriate timescale and that work is prioritised in order to meet customer requirements.
S7: the right materials, such as different leather types and qualities, appropriate selection of papers, adhesives, threads and sewing support materials (e.g. tapes and cords), types of gold leaf and gold foil, book cloths, in accordance with their senior colleagues instructions.
S8: and maintain the right levels of stock of the right types of material and be adept at applying knowledge of what is required to source the best value.
S9: stock requirements as required by the company specific business plan.
S10: the requirements of the workshop and the customer to ensure that the appropriate level of cost and quality is factored in to any orders placed.
S11: stock for defects and returning fault stock and dealing with errors in a timely manner.
S12: hand-sewn silk headbands.
S13: leather by hand.
S14: laced-on (also known as drawn-on) boards.
S15: head-caps and raised bands.
S16: titling and decoration in gold leaf.
S17: drop-back/clamshell boxes.
S18: slipcases, including 'leather entry' slipcases.
S19: portfolios to house loose collections of sheets.
S20: brass-post folders to house melinex sleeves.
S21: gold tooling using egg and BS glaire.
S22: handle letters, type-holders, wheels and decorative tools.
S23: varying design techniques and the application of leather on-lays.
S24: edge gilding, solid edges and rough gilt edges.
S25: appropriate software to create or save the art work electronically.
S26: skills learned in binding and restoration processes to determine the design and form of the block.
S27: requirements to the block maker.
S28: knowledge of the history of the book and of historical bookbinding techniques in order to create faithful and historically accurate designs ensuring that any design is consistent with the structure of the book, its age and purpose.
S29: knowledge of conservation when planning treatment procedures and be able to make informed decisions based on the latest techniques and research.
S30: apply company security procedures.
S31: the appropriate procedures for recording the safe custody of the property of others.
S32: repair, or otherwise fettle tools as appropriate.
S33: or repair housing and cases for tools.
S34: accurately the use of materials and the time taken on projects.
S35: in the management of the business workflow, including using the appropriate paperwork and software to monitor progress of projects.
S36: effective listening and communications skills to a customer throughout the life of all projects.
S37: to use a range of media and formats where required to describe the knowledge and skills, such as narrative accounts, sketches, or the use of electronic media such as drawing or illustrations in order to contribute to continuous professional development and to act as a reference for future projects.
S38: of insurance rules and safeguards to high value items, including third party property cover and professional indemnity.
Behaviour
B1: A professional attitude to all aspects of workshop procedures.
B2: Adopt a questioning attitude to ensure that processes are understood and applied properly.
B3: Be prepared to intervene when seeing procedures not being followed and be prepared to escalate a matter to senior colleagues where a Health & Safety issue may be present.
B4: Lead by example and set a standard of behaviour and conduct for others to follow.
B5: Taking care with planning and learning how to balance both the short-term and long-term needs of the business or institution, being responsible and accountable for the property, materials, and equipment of the business or organisation.
B6: Act with care and patience and diligence in checking stock levels regularly.
B7: Be timely and accurate in committing resources to the acquisition of materials, tools and equipment.
B8: Willingness to learn continuously.
B9: Follow all procedures accurately and with great patience, paying close attention to the smallest details in the craft process.
B10: Work collaboratively with others, promoting effective inter-professional and multi-disciplinary team working with peers, colleagues and staff and provides appropriate leadership within the scope of the role.
B11: Treat the customer's property with the utmost care and consideration.
B12: Take a responsible and meticulous approach to filling-out cost sheets and time sheets.
B13: A flexible approach and having the self-discipline and patience to switch from one project to another depending on business requirements.
B14: Proactively discuss and develop ideas with colleagues and customers.
Duty 1
DUTY: Comply with health and safety and other legislation and organizational policies and procedures.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Works safely at all times following appropriate Health and Safety Legislature and company policy.
K1
K3
K4
S1
S2
S3
B1
B3
B4
Duty 2
DUTY: Run a bookbinding workshop or bindery including the management of all bookbinding processes and supervision of junior staff.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Efficient, safe and diligent oversight of all processes within the workshop/bindery.
K2
K5
K10
K18
K21
K22
K23
S5
S6
S34
S35
S36
B1
B2
B4
B7
B10
B12
B13
Duty 3
DUTY: Carry out stock taking audits, ensuring adequate supply of materials, sourcing and preparation of materials.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Diligent auditing and sourcing of materials is carried out in an efficient manner and communicated clearly to business managers.
K8
K9
S4
S8
S9
S10
S11
S34
S35
B5
B6
B7
Duty 4
DUTY: Carry out fine binding techniques to customer and company specified quality levels including the use of leather binding.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner.
K6
K7
K10
S6
S7
S10
S12
S13
S14
S15
S18
S20
S22
S23
S32
S33
B1
B8
B9
Duty 5
DUTY: Carry out box-making processes to customer and company specified quality levels.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner.
K6
K7
K11
S7
S17
S18
S19
S20
S34
B1
B9
Duty 6
DUTY: Carry out gold finishing and decoration processes to customer and company specified quality levels.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner.
K6
K7
K12
S16
S21
S22
S24
B1
B7
B9
Duty 7
DUTY: Prepare artwork for finishing books to customer and company specified quality levels.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner.
K10
K13
K14
K18
K19
S10
S22
S26
S27
S28
B9
B10
B14
Duty 8
DUTY: Create and apply original designs to binding and finishing processes.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner.
K14
K18
S7
S22
S25
S34
S36
B8
B9
B10
B14
Duty 9
DUTY: Carry out restoration and conservation processes ensuring that ethical and practical considerations are applied appropriately in order to achieve the best outcome for the customer, whilst preserving the integrity of the artefacts. This may include seeking advice and guidance from other master binders where required.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Delivered in line with customer expectations and organisational quality standards in a cost and time effective manner, whilst also providing realistic expectation management to customers relating to the level of restoration which may be achieved within the binder's skillset and ethical constraints.
K14
K15
K17
K21
S28
S29
S34
S36
B1
B2
B7
B8
B11
B14
Duty 10
DUTY: Be responsible for the security of the workshop and the safe and secure storage of high value items.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Ensuring organisational security standards are adhered to at all times by all staff.
K16
K17
K21
S30
S31
S38
B1
B5
B11
Duty 11
DUTY: Effectively interact with customers in order to attain their desired outcome as well as advising on any relevant limitations of processes, costs and timescales.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Displaying polite and friendly customer service, promoting the business in a positive way whilst also providing realistic expectation management to customers relating to the level of services which may be achieved dependent on budgets, timescales and processes.
K22
S6
S35
S36
B11
B14
Duty 12
DUTY: Keep accurate and legible records of their learning experience with notes, photographs and sketches in order to act as a reference point for repeating exercises and remembering techniques.
CRITERIA FOR MEASURING PERFORMANCE: Detailed records throughout employment ensuring the application of learned techniques when working on future projects.
